Kem and Sudsakorn are facing off a second time this January 15th as part of the Isuzu 67 kg Tournament. This post profiles their previous match-up in 2009.

Their January 15th bout is one of the most pivotal in the ongoing tournament, since both are strong contenders to win the finals. Prior to entering the tournament, both fighters were performing at a high level against foreign and Thai competition under K-1 and Muay Thai rules.

Kem was originally slated to participate in the Contender Asia season 2 as Khem Fairtex, but the show fell through and he joined Sitsongpeenong camp. Moving up from 63.5 kg, 140 lb, due to a lack of competition, he notched big wins over BigBen Chor Praram 6, Nopparat Keatkhamtorn, Singhmanee Sor Srisompong, and Diesellek King Boxing Gym, all former or current champions at the time of competition. He's dropped bouts in K-1 rules against Giorgio Petrosian and Rachid Belaini. He now fights from 147 lb to 154 lb.

Sudsakorn saw strong wins in Thailand over top fighters in the 63.5 kg, 140 lb division. He beat Kongfah Audonmuang, the Lumpini 140 lb champion, and Noppadet Chengsimew Gym, after losing to both fighters in earlier matches. He also fights in the range of 147 to 154 lb internationally and has wins over Andrei Kulebin and Chahid Oulad El Hadj. He drew with Moussa Konate and lost a match against Fabio Pinca, winner of the last Thai Fight tournament.

This fight was contested at Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok, with Kem giving up weight to Sudsakorn to make the match more even. Kemwears the red gloves and shorts, Sudsakorn the blue.

Thanks to sitsongpeenong for the upload. Up until the third round, the fight is fairly even. Sudsakorn takes more of a reactionary role, implementing slick counters, especially off of Kem's kicks. Kem is exceptionally sharp, though, and doesn't allow Sudsakorn to land the same combos more than once, like his left hook to low kick. This doesn't stop Sudsakorn from trying.

As the second round draws to a close, we see Kem loop his right hand over Sudsakorn's guard and, in the third, sling more hard punches to press the opening. Unfortunately for Sudsakorn, he doesn't adjust his defenses as sharply in this fight as Kem and eats a left hook and right cross that wobble him in a neutral corner. Kem chases him around the ring, bombing with punches, and actually seems to have a little difficulty putting Sudsakorn down for the TKO. Sudsakorn, apparently, has a massive chin; Kem's right hand just happens to be more massive.

Kem is one of the few fighters I've seen stun Giorgion Petrosian with a clean punch, which is testament to his technique as well as power, since Petrosian has amazing punch defense. Interestingly, Sudsakorn also packs a powerful right hand, though he delivers his in a more looping fashion. You can see it at work in his fight against French fighter Farid Khider earlier in 2009.